Using Lead Solder for Bodywork
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 147
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From: Portland, OR
Using Lead Solder for Bodywork
Has anyone ever used your basic everyday plumbing solder to fill in small holes (from trim, moving mirrors), instead of bondo? Is there any reason why it wouldn't work?
My logic tells me:
-it won't shrink or crack like bondo
-it's cheap
-it's paintable
Thoughts?
Mike
74 Bronco Sport
(Avid shopper for 73-79 F250)
My logic tells me:
-it won't shrink or crack like bondo
-it's cheap
-it's paintable
Thoughts?
Mike
74 Bronco Sport
(Avid shopper for 73-79 F250)
Admom
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 9,414
Likes: 201
From: Silver Springs
Isn't it also somewhat soft?
Our '41 has a couple places that look like they came from the factory with a lead based solder. Those areas are soft enough that my fingernails can do damage to them.
Our '41 has a couple places that look like they came from the factory with a lead based solder. Those areas are soft enough that my fingernails can do damage to them.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 788
Likes: 1
From: Hendersonville, TN
Leading was the thing to do in the days before bondo. It was just that...lead solder. Essentially a dead art these days, as plastic fillers have gotten much better than they once were (if used properly) and sheet metal is so much thinner than it once was, leading to warping if significant heat is applied. You'd be hard pressed to even find anyone who still does it. Theoretically you could use solder, but the nature of it doesn't really lend itself to hole-filling very well anyway. The best thing to do is to weld the holes up and grind down, using filler to smooth it out. There is nothing wrong with using filler as intended-- to fill and smooth small imperfections ( not for building a new quarter panel out of it). If applied thinly to a properly prepped surface and immediately painted over to seal it, it won't give you a problem. If you want to fill the holes yourself and don't have/can't borrow a welder, I'd suggest fiberglassing shut from behind (if you can properly prep and paint the inside of the panel) and then using bondo on the outside to finish filling. Often on very minor spots, instead of filler, I use several heavy coats of primer/sealer and block sand between them.
